U.S. Education Department expands higher student-loan limits to nursing and other programs

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Student-loan limits expanded

Highlights

The U.S. Education Department updated its list to include nearly 30 'professional' programs, expanding access to higher student-loan borrowing limits effective July 1.
A court order last week blocked the department's narrowed definition that would have limited $200,000 lifetime borrowing to only 11 programs, maintaining broader eligibility for now.
New borrowing caps and repayment changes, including restrictions on parent loans and transfer of SAVE plan borrowers, will be implemented July 1 as part of recent federal legislation.

Revised program list ahead of July 1 changes

As reported by the U.S. Department of Education, an updated list issued Monday places nearly 30 programs under its "professional" designation, allowing them to qualify for higher student-loan borrowing limits when the new rules take effect tomorrow.

The revised list includes programs such as nurse anesthetist and clinical psychology. Theology programs, however, are no longer included, after previously qualifying under the department's narrowed framework.

The change follows a court decision last week that blocks the department's professional degree definition from taking effect on July 1. Under that definition, 11 programs would have qualified for a $200,000 lifetime borrowing limit, compared with a $100,000 cap for graduate programs.

Litigation keeps loan policy in flux

The department says the narrower definition is lawful and that it will continue to defend the policy. It also says the interim administrative designations are meant solely to facilitate implementation of the court's order and may change as the case proceeds.

The borrowing caps are set to take effect July 1 alongside other repayment changes signed into law by President Donald Trump in his spending legislation. Those changes include new repayment plans, limits on parent borrowing, and the transfer of millions of borrowers off SAVE, a Biden-era income-driven repayment plan.

The earlier narrower definition had drawn criticism from lawmakers and advocates who said some excluded programs, including advanced nursing, need greater borrowing capacity to help students complete their training.

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